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Code of Ethics

NCBTMB Certificants shall act in a manner that justifies public trust and confidence, enhances the reputation of the profession, and safeguards the interest of individual clients. Certificants will:

I. Have a sincere commitment to provide the highest quality of care to those who seek their professional services;

II. Represent their qualifications honestly, including education and professional affiliations, and provide only those services that they are qualified to perform;

III. Accurately inform clients, other health care practitioners, and the public of the scope and limitations of their discipline;

IV. Acknowledge the limitations of and contraindications for massage and bodywork and refer clients to appropriate health professionals;

V. Provide treatment only where there is reasonable expectation that it will be advantageous to the client;

VI. Consistently maintain and improve professional knowledge and competence, striving for professional excellence through regular assessment of personal and professional strengths and weaknesses and through continued education training;

VII. Conduct their business and professional activities with honesty and integrity, and respect the inherent worth of all persons;

IX. Safeguard the confidentiality of the client’s identity and information in all conversations, advertisements, and any and all other matters unless disclosure of identifiable information is requested by the client in writing, is medically necessary or is required by law;

X. Respect the client’s right to treatment with informed and voluntary consent. The certified practitioner will obtain and record the informed consent of the client, or client’s advocate, before providing treatment. This consent may be written or verbal;

XI. Respect the client’s right to refuse, modify or terminate treatment regardless of prior consent given;

XII. Provide draping and treatment in a way that ensures the safety, comfort and privacy of the client;

XIII. Exercise the right to refuse to treat any person or part of the body for just and reasonable cause;

XIV. Refrain, under all circumstances, from participating in a sexual relationship or sexual conduct with the client, whether consensual or otherwise, from the beginning of the client/therapist relationship and for a minimum of six (6) months after the termination of the client therapist relationship, unless an ongoing current sexual relationship existed prior to the date the therapeutic relationship began;

XV. Avoid any interest, activity or influence which might be in conflict with the practitioner’s obligation to act in the best interests of the client or the profession;

XVI. Respect the client’s boundaries with regard to privacy, disclosure, exposure, emotional expression, beliefs and the client’s reasonable expectations of professional behavior. Practitioners will respect the client’s autonomy;

XVII. Refuse any gifts or benefits that are intended to influence a referral, decision or treatment, or that are purely for personal gain and not for the good of the client; and

XVIII. Follow the NCBTMB Standards of Practice, this Code of Ethics, and all policies, procedures, guidelines, regulations, codes, and requirements promulgated by the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork, Inc.